Summer kick-off at Fi'lia was a Spritzy Italian wonder

The classic Aperol Spritz is the ideal cocktail to kick off summer and it paired perfectly with a few select new menu items at Fi'lia in the SLS Brickell during their Summer Soiree.

With a kitschy Aperol Spritz bar where the refreshing orange cocktails were handmade and an endless array of new menu items, it was a fun, relaxing, no-pretense evening.

Here's a rundown of the new Italian menu items we sampled that night.

The cauliflower pizza with sliced red onions, roasted cauliflower, fontina cheese and rosemary. The roasted cauliflower was meaty and played well with the creamy fontina, zippy red onions and hint of herby rosemary.

A hearty piece of grilled octopus with perfect grill marks served with romesco, fresh parsley and crunchy marcona almonds was tender and was ideally complemented by the traditional, tomatoey sauce.

Mediterranean mussels were abundant and served with fennel for a hint of licorice flavor, calabrian chili for some kick and crunchy garlic bread for dipping in their broth.

Thick chunks of fresh heirloom tomatoes surrounded by small chunks of stracciatella and a basil chiffonade combined to make an unforgettable caprese salad.

An Italian menu is never complete without tender, homemade meatballs and these were covered in whipped ricotta and topped with fresh basil chiffonade. I'll let the photo do the talking on this one.

Delectable individual desserts included the warm chocolate budino, a cross between cake and pudding, surrounded by luscious whipped cream and adorned with wisps of dark chocolate and the olive oil cake with strawberry, marcona almond basil and almond cream. Both were pure decadence.

Fi'lia is also a great place for brunch on Saturday or Sunday, lunch or happy hour Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. with snacks and pizzas.

Fi'lia at SLS Brickell, 1300 S. Miami Ave.,305.912.1729